As a child Shaun Marsh spent a lot of time in the Australian set-up travelling with his father Geoff, the former opening batsman. The international grounding and a backyard net helped develop Marsh into one of the finest young run-makers in the country. It also gave him a taste of what he could expect when he joined the national team. He made a successful start to his ODI career in 2008 and then scored a superb century on Test debut in Sri Lanka in 2011. Marsh looked set for a lengthy tenure as Australia's No.3 but a back injury suffered during Australia's disastrous Cape Town Test later that year proved a serious setback. Marsh rejoined the side for the home Tests against India but was a shadow of himself, and 17 runs from six innings was a calamitous return. He was recalled for the 2014 tour of South Africa and scored 148 in Centurion, but was dropped again after making a pair in the next Test. Another recall came at home against India when Michael Clarke was injured, and 99 at the MCG suggested he still had something to offer. But in his only Test on the 2015 Ashes tour he scored 0 and 2, and it seemed that might have been his last chance. Until he was given another, included to replace the injured Usman Khawaja for the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in 2015-16.

Marsh has appealed to a series of Australian selection panels, who have viewed him as a viable top-order prospect in Tests and ODIs especially. His first-class record may be underwhelming for a man given so many chances and his penchant for nicking off early has proved a frustration, but he has also shown himself to be capable of scoring hundreds at the highest level. More gifted than his father - "He's got a few more shots than me," Geoff once said - Marsh is a left-hander who impressed the tough judges of Steve and Mark Waugh while scoring his maiden first-class century in 2003. The milestone arrived with two sixes in a row over midwicket off Mark Waugh's offspin and a rash of compliments. "It's a pretty good feeling when the Australia captain comes up to you and says 'well done, mate'," Marsh said. Marsh is at his best when playing classical shots and keeping the ball along the ground, which has been effective even in the shorter formats of the game. A versatile member of the batting order, he has floated all around the top six in his first-class career.
ESPNcricinfo staff